The Magnolia gazette., 1887-12-24

the West that my daughter Sally is about is
! marry will be there. And that great bird
want you to kill clean and dress III your
very best style'
'Tll Do it, Deacon \
"Now, mind Tin trusting you as 10 man
else would, / understand that some of
those goddess fellows of the village are go-
ing to have a turkey-raffle at the tavern To-
| night One Of the @retches had the impu-
dence to come here this morning ana OFFER
me five dollars for that turkey, just as lie il.
| told him wouldn't take his weight in gold
for him, for that purpose. So you look
sharp; they're none too good to shoot him.
Now, Job, go ahead. Get boiling water and
knives, and any thing ase you need from
the kitchen. The Ratchet is behind the
door. Work fast, and be just as faithful
and careful as though the turkey was your
own
The brief December day was declining.
It was almost sunset when job Harllins,
| with his preparations all complete, and his
materials about him. bound the legs Of the
victim, placed his neck over a log, and with
one swinging blow of sharp axe, decapi-
tated him.
"Bravo Jobl-done like an old cavalry.
mani Was that the way you fellows used
your sabersln
Job looked at the man who had just eau
tiously climbed the rear fence Of the dea-
| con's premises. He had in fact, been hid
den behind it for the last fifteen minutes,
| overhearing the whole conversation.
''Don't you bother me, Sandy Badger
want to do this job quick and well. Go way.
and lemme alone.n
''Youneedn't be SO tetchy, Job. Iguess d
fellow might watch you. Seein' you handle
the hatchet so cleverly put me in mind Of
the great cavalry fight Two heard you tell
Of Which was it9n
Any provocation to talk about his service
in the war was sure to draw job out, as his
cunning tempter well knew.
''Don't know. Might have been Brandy
Stations might have been Yellow Tavern
Both big fights"
'sWas you in both Of 'em, Jobl"
'Yes, indeed and in dozen other small
er ones.n
'Which licked in those twoln
'We did at the Tavern; t other one they
called kind OF a draw
SO the talk went on until the turkey was
cleaned and dressed Holding ii up by the
leg, Harkns said:
snow, ain that beauty More n twenty
pounds dressed, really believen
"SplendidI' said Sandy $50 now you're
done. job, tell US who commanded there at
Brandysn
"General Pleasantoni Of course.o
"Fighting Gineraln
"You bet,n said the veteran, with enthu-
siasm.
"Job-let's drink his health.n
Mr.. Badgerproduced a square flask. Job
hesitated.
l don't want ton
"Whats the oddsl Your work is all
done. You amt going back on your old
commander, be your
The argument was irresistible. job
drank
He was lost man from that moment.
His tongue was loosed: he talked and
drank, and drank again. The crafty rascal
piled him with the fiery stuff merely max
ing pretense Of drinking himself He pro
posed the health Of General Sheridan, and
Job enthusiastically drank it, He drank to
the Army Of the Potomac; to his Colonel: to
his Captain to the old fighting st Mas
sachusetts Cavalry Near dark the Deacon
came out in the yard, and gazed with con
sternation at the sight. Job Harkins was
leaning against the fence in a maudlin con
diton; the hot water was overturned,
hatchet and knives were scattered on the
ground.
"Where is the turkeylr demanded the
irate proprietor
Fact is, Deacon" said job, with drunken
dignity" when (hicl got him dressed, he
(hicl few away
The Deacon drove Job from the yard.
II. FINDING IT.
Deacon Cleghorn was greatly angered by
this untoward incident. He knew enough
about the bad set, who. falling TO buy the
coveted turkey, had stolen it, to be sure
that they would hide il beyond reach Of a
search warrant. Christmas was rapidly ap-
preaching, and his main preparations were
yet TO be made. To his dismay he discov-
cred that he could purchase no kind Of a
turkey. Never was Christmas so extern
slvely prepared for in that vicinity as in
Inat Centennial year. There was nothing
IKE iowl 70 spare, even 10 Deacon Cleghorn.
he went home and reported the case to q
full domestic council.
20, what shall we do ~ said Mrs. Cleghorr,
wringing her hands,
"And to think that Captain Bradstreet
will be here to morrowl'' pretty Sally
pouted.